TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 57

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TRAJSCRIPT C BONG KONG SELECT CONNITTER NEETING 22 MAR 89

FOREIG】 CECRETARY (CONT):

15

Despite that, we introduced them as

we have described, and

they were equally cautious in their view about direct elections, but agalu We have brought them into place as we have described it

and we have now got to the position where the draft Basic Law

provides for the Legislature to be composed of directly and

indirectly-elected seuls and that the principle of universal

suffrage is now enshrined in the draft Basic Law.

QÜKSITION:

If we are less worried about their resistance to democracy,

is this not the time to try to get an early date for the eventual

introduction of universal suffrage, as is portended in the new

draft of the Basic Law, and is it not also an opportunity for us

to try to get direct elections before 19917

POREIGN SECRETARY:

I think the point to notice is that the pace of evolution of

the system has been in line with what most Hong Kong people

probably want as well. There is an awareness of opinion in Hong

Kong of Chinese opinion and of Hong Kong's opinion in China.

And

my impression is that what has happened has been an evolution of thinking amongst all parties accepting the kind of pattern and

Lidèscale that to bere cet mit.

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